1. If 4-6 ACC teams leave for SEC/B1G, UConn might be first on the list as backfill for the ACC. Maybe Yormark thinks this will help kill the ACC in the same way that the Big 12 grabbing BYU and Houston hurt the PAC 12 by leaving poor backfill options when USC/UCLA left. So he sees UConn as a way to increase the chance of an eventual Lousiville and Virginia Tech acquisition.

2. Vicinity to ESPN and the NY media market gives that region disproportionate weight in sports media, and he might think there is real value in the extra mindshare UConn would bring to the conference with big sports media.

3. Access to the NCAA b-ball tournament may be the best leverage he has to prevent a Power 2 football breakaway, and adding another basketball blueblood strengthens the Big 12 and also is insurance in case Kansas and/or Arizona are poached in the future.

I don't hate the UConn addition as long as football is conditional on investment and not until 2031 as reported.